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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

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[Beware of yeast septicemia in intensive care medicine]

M A Dhahri1, A Jebali, K Lamine

  • 1Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation de l'Hôpital Militaire de Tunis, Montfleury, Tunisie.

Cahiers D'Anesthesiologie
|January 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Systemic candidosis, a serious bloodstream infection, is increasingly common in intensive care units. Skin fungi, not gut Candida albicans, are the main culprits, often leading to difficult diagnoses and poor outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Context:

  • Retrospective analysis of 24 systemic candidosis cases over 6.5 years in a polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU).
  • Observed incidence of candidal septicaemia up to 27.5% of all ICU septicaemias.
  • High prevalence of non-albicans Candida species, particularly skin saprophytes, as causative agents.

Purpose:

  • To analyze the incidence, causative agents, diagnostic challenges, and outcomes of systemic candidosis in an ICU setting.
  • To identify key factors contributing to the high mortality rate.
  • To inform strategies for improving patient prognosis.

Summary:

  • Systemic candidosis incidence is rising in ICUs, with skin Candida species being more frequently implicated than Candida albicans.
  • Diagnostic difficulties are common, and the mortality rate remains significant (7/24 patients), often linked to severe underlying conditions.
  • A significant proportion of septicaemia cases (up to 27.5%) were attributed to Candida infections.

Impact:

  • Highlights the increasing threat of systemic candidosis in critical care environments.
  • Emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic approaches and targeted antifungal therapy.
  • Suggests empirical antifungal treatment may be warranted for critically ill patients with persistent fever of unknown origin to improve outcomes.

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